Context dependency of biotic interactions and its relation to plant rarity

Abstract

Aim: Biotic interactions can determine rarity and commonness of species, however evidence that rare and common species respond differently to biotic stress is scarce. This is because biotic interactions are notoriously context-dependent and traits leading to success in one habitat might be costly or unimportant in another. We aim to identify plant characteristics that are related to biotic interactions and may drive patterns of rarity and commonness, taking environmental context into account.

Location: Switzerland

Methods: In a multi-species experiment, we compared the response to biotic interactions of 19 rare and 21 widespread congeneric plant species in Switzerland, while also accounting for variation in environmental conditions of the species´ origin.

Results: Our results restrict the long-standing hypothesis that widespread species are superior competitors to rare species to only those species originating from resource rich habitats, in which competition is usu...